Heat-insulating container.



1. J. MENDENHALL. HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1917.

Patent-ed June 11, 1918.

3 SHE ETSSHEET 1.

J. 1. MENDENHALL. HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. l9l7.

Patented June 11, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1.1. MENDENHALL.

HEAT INSULATING CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. I917.

Patentd June 11, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- 7 lrwE: FLMTJJI" J13 1111 J- Mendel-111E111 H1 5 HIUJPTLE .Tomv J; MENDENHALL, or RAIVFORD, FLORIDA.

HEAT-INSULATING CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1917. Serial No. 159,459.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN'J. MENDEN- HALL, a citizen of the United Stat s, and a resident of Raiford, in the county of Bradford and State of Florida, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Heat-Insulating Containers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly to that type adapted to prevent heat exchange through the walls thereof.

An object is to provide a container of this character which is so constructed that it may be adapted to packing boxes for carrying'fruit, vegetables and the like to protect the same. against deterioration as the result of subjection to heat during transit, and which may be embodied in a refrigerator, or in larger or smaller structures.

The invention aims at the provision of a container having hollow walls, and a novel heat-insulating bracing structure for supporting the walls against collapsing, and a novel valve device through which the air between the walls may be exhausted and which is adapted to maintain the desired seal of the'space between the walls.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this'invention will be in part described, and in part understood, from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed according to the present invention, the cover being removed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially centrally through the container.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the container.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, enlarged, of the container with the cover thereon, disclosing one of the cover-securing devices.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the reinforcing plates used in the construction of the walls.

Fig. 6 is a detail pe spective View, en-

' larged, of the exhausting and seal-maintainmg valve.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section, enlarged, through a portion of the wall of the container, showing in longitudinal section the said exhausting valve applied thereto.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the container, the same being embodied in a refrigerator construction, and showing parts broken away. 7

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken through onecorner of the container, enlarged, showing the vertical corner braces.

Fig. 10 is a detail transverse section through the wall on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. v

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 9, showing the connecting means for the opposed strut members.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, and referring first to-the form disclosed in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, the container is disclosed in the form of a. substantially rectangular box or receptacle provided. with the side walls 10 and 11, and the opposite end walls 12 and 13. These walls 10, 11, 12 and 13 are the exterior walls of the container, and the same are preferably constructed from sheet metal. Each of these walls is provided with an intermediate section or sheet 14 which is spaced inwardly from the adjacent walls, and a sec- Patented June 11, 1918;.

0nd section or sheet 15 which comprises the inner section, and which is spaced inwardly from the intermediate section 14.

The meeting edges of the walls 10, 11,12 and 13 are reinforced by the provision of angle strips 16 which protect and reinforce the exterior angle portions of the container. If desired, additional bracing strips 17 may be placed at suitably spaced-apart intervals against the exterior surfaces of the side and end walls for bracing the same and reinforcing the container. The container is provided with a cover or removable wall 18 which is of substantially the same construction as that of the side an e d alls abovedescribed, the cover 18 being provided with the intermediate and inner sections 141- suitably spaced apart. lt will also be noted, from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawin "s, that the container is provided with a bottom wall 19 of similar construction, the same be: ing; provided with the intermediate and inner wall sections 1 1- and 15, llhese intermediate and inner sections it and 15 ar ranged concentrically within the outer shell or frame of the container, and provide sub stantially annular inner and outer chambers at the opposite sides of the intermediate sections 14 throughout all of the walls of the container, The inner walls 14 form supports for spacing devices hereinafter set forth,

The inner and outer sections of the wall are held against collapsing, and are suitably reinforced against crushing under impact, by the provision of reinforcing plates Q0, The reinforcing plates 20 are preferably formed from sheet metal which is corrugated to provide a plurality of closely spaced-apart ribs 21 arranged in parallelism with each other, the ribs 21 being pressed upwardly from one side of the plates 20, and the latter being adapted to be secured in any suitable manner against the inner opposite faces of the outer and inner wall sections As shown in Figs 5 and 9 of the drawings, the ribs 21 are of double truss form, the same being pressed outwardly intermediate their ends to provide abutments or rests 22 adapted to extend toward the intermediate section 14, the ribs being raised or bulged in'terrnediately of each end portion, as shown in Fig, 11, to reinforce the bracing plate 20 against bending or buckling, The intermediate section or partition i l is provided at opposite sides with and supports longitudinally extending rows oi packing boxes being of greater cross-sectional area than that of the projections or 522, The boxes 23 are filled with asbestos, tell or other suitable heat insulating material, which lat ter is held in. place by hearing plates 24; of less cross-sectional. area than that of the boxes 23 and adapted to freely slide within the same, The heat-insulating packing in the boxes 23 is adapted to expand about the edges of the plates 2 and thus insulate the same from the body of the boxes 23., The projections or rests 22 of the ribs 21 are adapted to bear against the plate 24 and press the same into the boxes 23, the heatlnsulatingpaclring forming a connection or intermediate brace member between the partition l4: and the double strut members, and holding the same in properly spaced apart relation. From 9 it will be noted that the bores 23, and the rests 22 are arranged directly opposite each other so as to counter act pressure against the opposite sides of the partition 14:, The partition 14;, and the boxes 23, therefore provide a substantially ocale? direct connection between the opposed bracing plates to hold the inner and outer sections of the walls from collapsing. This constructionis carried out in the formation of the sides, ends, bottom and top walls of the m container, to form. a substantial, rigid structure capable of withstanding rough usage, and which. will not collapse or buckle when subjected to internal pressure.

At the open side or top of the container,

such as shown particularly in Figs, 2 and 3, the intermediate and inner sections or sheets 14 and lo are consecutively reduced in inwardly stepped relation, as shown, and have their upper edge portions joined and 'interg9 braced by the provision of transversely concaved flange strips 25' adapted to retain packing strips 26 of rubber, or the like against which the inwardly stepped ends of the removable side or cover 18 are adapted to seat. The packing strips 26 are of rubber, asbestos, or the like for the purpose of providing not only a suitable seal between the jointed parts or ends of the walls, but

also for the purpose of preventing heat exchange through the joints. The removable wall, such as 18, has its intermediate and inner sections 14 and 15 interbraced at their opposite stepped ends by the provision of shoulder strip 917 adapted to fit against the shoulders formed upon the stepped ends of" the adjacent walls,

@ne means of securing and holding the cover or removable wall 18 to the body part of the container is disclosed in Figs, 1 to 4-, 3 inclusive, wherein the wall 18 13 provided exteriorly with a plurality of transversely extending straps or bars 28 adapted to reinforce the wall 18, and which are adapted to register with the vertically extending strips 1?" arranged upon the side walls 10 and 11. One or more oi the straps 28 is provided upon its opposite ends with outstanding lugs or 29 having transverse slots in their outer faces and adapted to receive m therein the loops 30 or clamping devices which are carried upon the registering vertically extending bars l?v These fastening" devices are formed of the outer loops 30,

and the inner loops 33;, the same having 5 toning devices are adapted to draw the lugs 12g,

29 downwardly and thus bind the removable wall or cover 18 against the open side oi the container.

The exhausting and sealing valve illustiated in detail in Figs. 6 one The no comprises a plug 35 which is threaded through one of the exterior wall sections, such as section 10, through the adjacent bracing plate secured thereto, and which abuts against the adjacent portion of the intermediate section 14. This plug 35 is provided near its inner end with a transversely extending opening 36 which communicates with the outer compartment of the wall. The plug 35 is also provided with a relatively large itnernally threaded axial opening extending from the transverse slot 36 outwardly, the plug 35 terminating in an enlarged substantially bell-shaped mouth 37.

A tube 38, externally threaded throughout its entire length, is threaded at one end into the axial. opening in the plug 35 and is turned up therein to lie flush with the inner wall of the transverse passage 36. The axial opening in the tube 38 communicates with the transverse opening 36, and the in ner wall of the tube 38 flares at its outer end to provide an interior taper formation to the tube 38. A- hollow binding nut 39 having internally threaded end openings of different diameters, is adjustably mounted at one end upon the tube 38, and has screw-threaded engagement at its opposite end with a pipe 40 which extends axially through the tube 38 and outwardly from the same. The pipe 40 is externally threaded at that portion extending beyond the tube 38, and a jam nut 41 is threaded on the tube 38 for engagement against the bindin nut 39. A conical plug or check valve 42 1s fitted in the outer flaring end of the tube 38 and is provided with an axial opening adapted to receive the pipe 40 therethrough. The binding nut 39 is adapted to engage at its reduced end against the outer extremity of the plu 42 for limiting the outward movement 0? the same, and for holding the plug 42in binding engagement in the tube 38 when it is desired to secure the valve closed.

The tube 40 extends axially through the plug 35 and through the transverse opening 36, but has no communication therewith. The tube 40 is of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the tube 38, so that an annular passage in the tube 38 is formed about the pipe 40. The pipe 40 projects through the adjacent portion of the intermediate section 14 of the wall, and has upon its inner extremity a foot flange 43 adapted to bear against the inner section 15 of the wall. From Fig. 7 it will be noted that where the tube 40 registerswith the ribs 21 of the bracing plates 20, the latter are either entirely interrupted, or are apertured sufficiently to receive the tube 40 and the plug 35 therethrough. The pipe 40 is provided near its inner free end with one or more lateral openings 44 communicating with the inner chamber or compartment in the wall,

the cap 46 is unscrewed to a slight extent I upon the end of the. pipe 40, the plug 45 is permitted to move sufliciently out of the axial openin in the pipe 40 to admit the passage of a1r about the plug 45, the projections 47 holding the outer end of the plug from engagement with the cap to seal the perforations therethrough. A relatively small annular space is formed between the bell-shaped mouth 37 of the plug 35 and the binding nut 39, the space being adapted to receive a hose or pipe of an exhauster which may be used for withdrawing air from the walls of the container.

The angled portions of the walls may be interbraced, as shown inFig. 9, wherein 1s shown the angle construction between the exterior wall sections 11 and 12, and the ad jacent intermediate and inner sections. A quantity of heat-insulating material is compressed into the angle between the sections 11 and 12, and held in such relation by the provision of angle strips 48, which form, together with the adjacent; edge portions of the sections 11 and 12, a substantially rec tangular packing box construction open at its inner edge or corner. The adjacent edge portions of the intermediate sections 14 are reinforced by preferably a pair of superposed angle strips 49, the'outer angle strip of which is adapted to engage in the open corner or sidesof the above-described packing box. The angle strips 49 are therefore nested against the quantity of heat-insulating material .which' is retained in the angle of the outer wall sections, thus bracing the inner wall sections in suitably spaced relation from the outer wall sections. Fig. 9 also discloses the same form of packing brace or oints betweenthe inner sections 15 and the intermediate sections 14, wher in there is a heat-insulating connection between the outer, inner and intermediate sections, and a substantial brace or support between the sections is provided.

In the construction ofthe container it is preferable that the side, end, and bottom walls all intercommunicate so that but one exhausting valve, as above described, may be employed. The valve is located in any suitadjustment by means ofa hingedcap or cover 50 mounted on the adjacent exterior wall section, such as 10, at one side, and

provided with an apertnred hasp portion 51 receiving a staple 52 therethrough which projects from the wall 10, and which is adapted to receive a padlock 53 or the like therethrough.

In the form disclosed in Fig. 8, the container is in the form of refrigerator which is provided with a pair of hinged closure walls or doors 18 which are of the construction disclosed in 2 and 3, and which are each provided with an exhausting valve and a suitable protecting cap therefor.

In the practical use of the container, it is only necessary to exhaust air from the innor and outer chambers of the walls by connecting an exhauster to the valve device, the exhauster being provided with an enlarged pipe adapted to lit in the annular passage within the bell 3?, for exhausting the outer chamber of the wall through the transverse passage 38 and plug 35, and may be provided with independent small detachable pipe section adapted to lit over the cap l6 to exhaust the pipe 40 and the inner chamber of the walls when the cap is partly open, It is of course understood that the application of a large pipe to 'the'bell 37, maybe made for exhausting both of the inner and outer wall chambers simultaneously, the adjusting nut 89, and the cap lo being prior opened The exhausting of the air from the charnhers causes the check valves 42 and 3:5 to automatically seat and seal the chambers when the presauire of the pump is released.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction of the abovespecifically described embodiment of the invention without departing "from the spirit thereof, and lacing restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

1. In a heatinsulating container, the combination of a plurality of spaced-apart wall sections, bracing plates secured against the inner opposite faces of said wall sec ions provided with outstanding ribs for reinforcing the wall sections and having; op posed inwardly extending projections, supports arranged between the opposed proj-eca tions, boxings on the supports in line with the projections, a heaft-insulating= mate ial in the boxings, and hearing plates in the bonings against the material uted to receive the projections the brace the same each 0th In a heat-insulating container, the combination of a plurality of spaced-apart wall sections, bracing plates secured aiigains' the inner opposite faces of the wall sections and provided with pluralities o registering ribs of pressed formation adapted hold the wall sections from bending, said plates also provided with inwardly ext-end ing projections adapted to register transversely, supports between the bracing plates and a heat-insulating material carried by the supports between said projections for holding the same in spaced-apart relation and for bracing the wall sections.

3, In a heat-insulating container, the combination of a plurality of spaced-apart wall sections, plates secured against the inner opposite laces of said wall sections and being stamped to provide a plurality of raised ribs with intermediate inwardly extending projections forming members for reinforci the wall sections, supporting members a. .nged between the projections and heat-insulating material mounted on the members to engage the projections of the opposed sections for spacing the same apart and reinforcing the wall sections. l a

l, ln a heat-insulating container, the combination with a plurality of wall sections, of bracing plates secured against the inner opposite faces of said wall sections and provided with pluralities of inwardly crimped beads extending longitudinally of the plates and being raised intermediate their ends to provide rests and beinghulged outwardly intermediate of the end portions of the beads to form truss rneinbes, and heatdnsm lating connections between said rests to space the plates apart brace the wall sections,

5, In a heat-insulating container, the cone bination of a plurality of wall sections arranged in angular relation with each other, a quantity of heat-insulating material packed in the angles between the wall sections, means for retaining the heat insulah material position, said means provid- 111g inner exposed portions oi? the heat-insu lating material, and engaging rnei .=loers carried upon the adjacent inner wall sections adapted to engage against said exposed pertions of the heat-insulating material for supporting the angled portions of the wall sections in spaced-apart rel tion,

a heat-insulating container, the combination of an outer wall, an inner wall, an intermediate wall, bracing plates secured the inner sides of the inner and outer walls and provided interrnediat ly with outstanding projections facing the in termediate wall, spacing devices carried upon the opposite sides oi the intermediate wall in line with said projections, and heat-- insulating material carried by said devices adapted to contact with said projections for bracing the plates against each other i1 lo a heatinsulating container, the coinbin, ion of outer wall, an inner wall, an intermediate wall arranged between the in nd outer walls, bracing plates secured net the inner sides of the inner and r walls and provided with projections mam? facing the intermediate Wall, boxings secured in registering relation against the 0ppesite sides of the intermediate wall in line with the projections, heat-insulating mate- 5 rial mounted in the boxings, and bearing plates fitting in the outer ends of the boxings adapted to bear against the projections and brace the same against each other at the I opposite sides of the intermediate Wall, said bearing plates being of less size than the boxing and the heat-insulating material being adapted to engage against the other marginal edges of the plate to-insulate the same from the boxing.

a. JoHN' MEN ENL. 

